a family walked into the music school while I was teaching in 2011 a mom a dad
while I was teaching in 2011 a mom a dad
while I was teaching in 2011 a mom a dad and two sons 10 and 13 the two boys held
and two sons 10 and 13 the two boys held
and two sons 10 and 13 the two boys held drumsticks they looked pretty nervous
drumsticks they looked pretty nervous
drumsticks they looked pretty nervous just like any other beginning student
just like any other beginning student
just like any other beginning student I’ve ever had and as usual I start
I’ve ever had and as usual I start
I’ve ever had and as usual I start running through you know the motions of
running through you know the motions of
running through you know the motions of meeting new students ask them where
meeting new students ask them where
meeting new students ask them where they’re from
they’re from
they’re from ask them what made them choose music
ask them what made them choose music
ask them what made them choose music summon an ounce of energy try to pretend
summon an ounce of energy try to pretend
summon an ounce of energy try to pretend like I’m not a hungover 21 year old
like I’m not a hungover 21 year old
like I’m not a hungover 21 year old totally winging it but then the
totally winging it but then the
totally winging it but then the receptionist said this is Eddie he’s 13
receptionist said this is Eddie he’s 13
receptionist said this is Eddie he’s 13 and he’s gonna be your first student
and he’s gonna be your first student
and he’s gonna be your first student today I said something really lame like
today I said something really lame like
today I said something really lame like hey buddy what’s up ready to swing those
hey buddy what’s up ready to swing those
hey buddy what’s up ready to swing those sticks and bang on those drums not
sticks and bang on those drums not
sticks and bang on those drums not surprisingly I got no reaction from him
surprisingly I got no reaction from him
surprisingly I got no reaction from him but Eddie seemed more shy than most kids
but Eddie seemed more shy than most kids
but Eddie seemed more shy than most kids like boy stirred almost so as we’re
like boy stirred almost so as we’re
like boy stirred almost so as we’re walking back to my studio to start the
walking back to my studio to start the
walking back to my studio to start the lesson his mom follows right behind me
lesson his mom follows right behind me
lesson his mom follows right behind me and she says hey by the way
and she says hey by the way
and she says hey by the way Eddie’s deaf is that gonna be a problem
Eddie’s deaf is that gonna be a problem
Eddie’s deaf is that gonna be a problem he’s deaf to which I replied what he’s
he’s deaf to which I replied what he’s
he’s deaf to which I replied what he’s who what deaf him no that’s that’s great
who what deaf him no that’s that’s great
who what deaf him no that’s that’s great okay yeah
okay yeah
okay yeah what’s whatever will be fine I was
what’s whatever will be fine I was
what’s whatever will be fine I was trying to pretend like it wasn’t fazed
trying to pretend like it wasn’t fazed
trying to pretend like it wasn’t fazed but I was freaking out I mean I had
but I was freaking out I mean I had
but I was freaking out I mean I had trouble teaching kids who didn’t listen
trouble teaching kids who didn’t listen
trouble teaching kids who didn’t listen to the radio much this kid has never
to the radio much this kid has never
to the radio much this kid has never listened to music so we make our way
listened to music so we make our way
listened to music so we make our way back to the studio and he sits behind
back to the studio and he sits behind
back to the studio and he sits behind the drum set I sit behind my desk at my
the drum set I sit behind my desk at my
the drum set I sit behind my desk at my computer it’s pretty silent I heard my
computer it’s pretty silent I heard my
computer it’s pretty silent I heard my dinner digesting from the previous night
dinner digesting from the previous night
dinner digesting from the previous night and when I feel awkward I’m the kind of
and when I feel awkward I’m the kind of
and when I feel awkward I’m the kind of guy who just runs his mouth to fill up
guy who just runs his mouth to fill up
guy who just runs his mouth to fill up that empty space that weighs doubt that
that empty space that weighs doubt that
that empty space that weighs doubt that with social anxiety but you know that’s
with social anxiety but you know that’s
with social anxiety but you know that’s not an option so I start framed to be
not an option so I start framed to be
not an option so I start framed to be running through the usual first lesson
running through the usual first lesson
running through the usual first lesson icebreakers in my head okay ask the kid
icebreakers in my head okay ask the kid
icebreakers in my head okay ask the kid what their favorite song in the radio is
what their favorite song in the radio is
what their favorite song in the radio is nope that’s not gonna work
nope that’s not gonna work
nope that’s not gonna work put on an easy play a long song like we
put on an easy play a long song like we
put on an easy play a long song like we will rock you just get things going no
will rock you just get things going no
will rock you just get things going no that’s not gonna work just get to know
that’s not gonna work just get to know
that’s not gonna work just get to know the kid nope I don’t know sign language
the kid nope I don’t know sign language
the kid nope I don’t know sign language and he doesn’t read lips
and he doesn’t read lips
and he doesn’t read lips I mean as a teacher and a human being I
I mean as a teacher and a human being I
I mean as a teacher and a human being I was just utterly lost no curriculum was
was just utterly lost no curriculum was
was just utterly lost no curriculum was a joke at this point so I made my way
a joke at this point so I made my way
a joke at this point so I made my way behind my drum set and I just I felt
behind my drum set and I just I felt
behind my drum set and I just I felt like I was failing him already
like I was failing him already
like I was failing him already and I hit one of the drums just I don’t
and I hit one of the drums just I don’t
and I hit one of the drums just I don’t know as a tick
know as a tick
know as a tick you know unintentionally when I’m like
you know unintentionally when I’m like
you know unintentionally when I’m like thinking about something and when I hit
thinking about something and when I hit
thinking about something and when I hit the drum
the drum
the drum Eddie’s head snapped towards me my head
Eddie’s head snapped towards me my head
Eddie’s head snapped towards me my head snapped towards him I know he didn’t
snapped towards him I know he didn’t
snapped towards him I know he didn’t just hear that I hit it again and he
just hear that I hit it again and he
just hear that I hit it again and he smiled okay so then I hit the crash
smiled okay so then I hit the crash
smiled okay so then I hit the crash cymbal that’s typically like the
cymbal that’s typically like the
cymbal that’s typically like the shrillest loudest part of the drumset I
shrillest loudest part of the drumset I
shrillest loudest part of the drumset I hit that Shh
hit that Shh
hit that Shh nothing he looks confused
nothing he looks confused
nothing he looks confused didn’t seem to do much for him
didn’t seem to do much for him
didn’t seem to do much for him interesting so then I hit the bass drum
interesting so then I hit the bass drum
interesting so then I hit the bass drum that giant drum that sits on the floor
that giant drum that sits on the floor
that giant drum that sits on the floor the one you hit with a foot pedal I hit
the one you hit with a foot pedal I hit
the one you hit with a foot pedal I hit that and his face exploded he moved in
that and his face exploded he moved in
that and his face exploded he moved in his seat so we just started laughing I
his seat so we just started laughing I
his seat so we just started laughing I mean now we were having fun we were
mean now we were having fun we were
mean now we were having fun we were exploring things we were learning about
exploring things we were learning about
exploring things we were learning about sound things about each other about what
sound things about each other about what
sound things about each other about what music really even is that’s the day that
music really even is that’s the day that
music really even is that’s the day that Eddie started to become a drummer okay
Eddie started to become a drummer okay
Eddie started to become a drummer okay so what we were doing that first day it
so what we were doing that first day it
so what we were doing that first day it wasn’t so much making music as it was an
wasn’t so much making music as it was an
wasn’t so much making music as it was an exploration of what sound is how it
exploration of what sound is how it
exploration of what sound is how it effects us and how it moves us literally
effects us and how it moves us literally
effects us and how it moves us literally now at first I had no clue what was
now at first I had no clue what was
now at first I had no clue what was going on but as the week’s went by I
going on but as the week’s went by I
going on but as the week’s went by I ended up learning about why Eddie ended
ended up learning about why Eddie ended
ended up learning about why Eddie ended up getting it just like any other
up getting it just like any other
up getting it just like any other student in order for me to explain that
student in order for me to explain that
student in order for me to explain that though
though
though you’ll have to understand a few things
you’ll have to understand a few things
you’ll have to understand a few things about sound okay so sound is just
about sound okay so sound is just
about sound okay so sound is just pressure waves moving throughout space
pressure waves moving throughout space
pressure waves moving throughout space when I make a noise I cause a physical
when I make a noise I cause a physical
when I make a noise I cause a physical vibration that moves through the air and
vibration that moves through the air and
vibration that moves through the air and that our ears are designed to pick up
that our ears are designed to pick up
that our ears are designed to pick up okay now sounds can be high or low
okay now sounds can be high or low
okay now sounds can be high or low alright that’s called pitch and we
alright that’s called pitch and we
alright that’s called pitch and we measure that it hurts so the higher
measure that it hurts so the higher
measure that it hurts so the higher sounds pitch is faster that wave is
sounds pitch is faster that wave is
sounds pitch is faster that wave is vibrating the lower the pitch is the
vibrating the lower the pitch is the
vibrating the lower the pitch is the slower it moves now we organize sound
slower it moves now we organize sound
slower it moves now we organize sound into different ranges depending on their
into different ranges depending on their
into different ranges depending on their pitch so let me show you here’s the
pitch so let me show you here’s the
pitch so let me show you here’s the frequency the the spectrum of
frequency the the spectrum of
frequency the the spectrum of frequencies that the human ear can hear
frequencies that the human ear can hear
frequencies that the human ear can hear with low sounds on the left the high
with low sounds on the left the high
with low sounds on the left the high sounds on the right okay the first range
sounds on the right okay the first range
sounds on the right okay the first range we have is the sub-base range all right
we have is the sub-base range all right
we have is the sub-base range all right at 60 Hertz and below this is nearly
at 60 Hertz and below this is nearly
at 60 Hertz and below this is nearly inaudible it’s mostly just felt more
inaudible it’s mostly just felt more
inaudible it’s mostly just felt more than it is heard now I can physically
than it is heard now I can physically
than it is heard now I can physically shake things so like you know sounds
shake things so like you know sounds
shake things so like you know sounds like planes going over us or thunder in
like planes going over us or thunder in
like planes going over us or thunder in the distance fall into this range check
the distance fall into this range check
the distance fall into this range check it out next we have the bass range
it out next we have the bass range
it out next we have the bass range okay now bass range is where low sounds
okay now bass range is where low sounds
okay now bass range is where low sounds start to become much more audible but
start to become much more audible but
start to become much more audible but bass is very physical it moves through
bass is very physical it moves through
bass is very physical it moves through our bodies
our bodies
our bodies now something I actually found
now something I actually found
now something I actually found interesting is that Eddy can actually
interesting is that Eddy can actually
interesting is that Eddy can actually feel people when they talk behind his
feel people when they talk behind his
feel people when they talk behind his back because lower human voices fall in
back because lower human voices fall in
back because lower human voices fall in the higher end of the bass range check
the higher end of the bass range check
the higher end of the bass range check this out everyone I have a microphone so
this out everyone I have a microphone so
this out everyone I have a microphone so it’s hard but put your hand on your
it’s hard but put your hand on your
it’s hard but put your hand on your chest and on three we’re all gonna say
chest and on three we’re all gonna say
chest and on three we’re all gonna say uh in a deep voice okay
uh in a deep voice okay
uh in a deep voice okay one two three ah see how you could feel
one two three ah see how you could feel
one two three ah see how you could feel that so can he so check out here’s a
that so can he so check out here’s a
that so can he so check out here’s a nice deep voice for you the lower your
nice deep voice for you the lower your
nice deep voice for you the lower your voice is the better you sound
you know like that huh yeah alright next
you know like that huh yeah alright next we have the low mid-range this is where
we have the low mid-range this is where
we have the low mid-range this is where most musical instruments start to fall
most musical instruments start to fall
most musical instruments start to fall it can still be felt but not quite as
it can still be felt but not quite as
it can still be felt but not quite as much as the sub bass all right so
much as the sub bass all right so
much as the sub bass all right so everything above that is where sound is
everything above that is where sound is
everything above that is where sound is much more heard rather than felt that
much more heard rather than felt that
much more heard rather than felt that gradient up there is where the feeling
gradient up there is where the feeling
gradient up there is where the feeling of sound starts to taper off and it’s
of sound starts to taper off and it’s
of sound starts to taper off and it’s mostly just heard the far right is what
mostly just heard the far right is what
mostly just heard the far right is what we call the high range
we call the high range
we call the high range it’s where sound just gets more nuanced
it’s where sound just gets more nuanced
it’s where sound just gets more nuanced brightness is another term for that
brightness is another term for that
brightness is another term for that alright now think back to how Eddie
alright now think back to how Eddie
alright now think back to how Eddie responded to all those drums when I hit
responded to all those drums when I hit
responded to all those drums when I hit that bass drum it opened up a new world
that bass drum it opened up a new world
that bass drum it opened up a new world for it okay and that’s because Eddy
for it okay and that’s because Eddy
for it okay and that’s because Eddy experiences the bass drum similarly to
experiences the bass drum similarly to
experiences the bass drum similarly to the way we do because the bass drum
the way we do because the bass drum
the way we do because the bass drum falls primarily in the sub bass and the
falls primarily in the sub bass and the
falls primarily in the sub bass and the bass range next and the toms and the
bass range next and the toms and the
bass range next and the toms and the snare the other drums on the drumset he
snare the other drums on the drumset he
snare the other drums on the drumset he said he could feel those but they felt
said he could feel those but they felt
said he could feel those but they felt smaller relative to their size that’s
smaller relative to their size that’s
smaller relative to their size that’s because they fall on the bass and the
because they fall on the bass and the
because they fall on the bass and the low mid-range and then there was that
low mid-range and then there was that
low mid-range and then there was that crash cymbal the one that just didn’t
crash cymbal the one that just didn’t
crash cymbal the one that just didn’t register at all for nothing that’s
register at all for nothing that’s
register at all for nothing that’s because the crash cymbal falls primarily
because the crash cymbal falls primarily
because the crash cymbal falls primarily in the high range so over the months
in the high range so over the months
in the high range so over the months Eddy and I developed this system of
Eddy and I developed this system of
Eddy and I developed this system of communicating how the drums felt we
communicating how the drums felt we
communicating how the drums felt we would literally use our hands like this
would literally use our hands like this
would literally use our hands like this tip to the sizes we learned how to read
tip to the sizes we learned how to read
tip to the sizes we learned how to read drum music without a problem and we
drum music without a problem and we
drum music without a problem and we worked on stick technique turns out
worked on stick technique turns out
worked on stick technique turns out drums are the perfect instrument for
drums are the perfect instrument for
drums are the perfect instrument for someone with deafness to learn because
someone with deafness to learn because
someone with deafness to learn because it’s largely physical it provides
it’s largely physical it provides
it’s largely physical it provides instant physical feedback and reading
instant physical feedback and reading
instant physical feedback and reading drum music isn’t a problem since drum
drum music isn’t a problem since drum
drum music isn’t a problem since drum music doesn’t require pitch drumming was
music doesn’t require pitch drumming was
music doesn’t require pitch drumming was a revelation for Eddy now about two
a revelation for Eddy now about two
a revelation for Eddy now about two months ago I actually met with Eddie’s
months ago I actually met with Eddie’s
months ago I actually met with Eddie’s family to tell them about this speech
family to tell them about this speech
family to tell them about this speech and I asked Eddie if he would explain
and I asked Eddie if he would explain
and I asked Eddie if he would explain what being deaf is like for people who
what being deaf is like for people who
what being deaf is like for people who might not be familiar with it and now
might not be familiar with it and now
might not be familiar with it and now translated by his mom they said that
translated by his mom they said that
translated by his mom they said that deafness is
deafness is
deafness is isolating it creates a lonely world and
isolating it creates a lonely world and
isolating it creates a lonely world and Eddie feels misunderstood because of the
Eddie feels misunderstood because of the
Eddie feels misunderstood because of the communication disparity between him and
communication disparity between him and
communication disparity between him and people who speak see people who were
people who speak see people who were
people who speak see people who were born deaf they don’t grow up thinking
born deaf they don’t grow up thinking
born deaf they don’t grow up thinking and communicating exactly like people
and communicating exactly like people
and communicating exactly like people who hear so ed he mostly just didn’t
who hear so ed he mostly just didn’t
who hear so ed he mostly just didn’t bother but every Saturday when we sat
bother but every Saturday when we sat
bother but every Saturday when we sat down to play drums I saw him come alive
down to play drums I saw him come alive
down to play drums I saw him come alive we were connected by this language that
we were connected by this language that
we were connected by this language that didn’t require words or translations and
didn’t require words or translations and
didn’t require words or translations and that communication brought him out of
that communication brought him out of
that communication brought him out of that isolation now as a teacher I think
that isolation now as a teacher I think
that isolation now as a teacher I think Eddie was that shake up that every
Eddie was that shake up that every
Eddie was that shake up that every educate educators needs to like break up
educate educators needs to like break up
educate educators needs to like break up the monotony so no longer do I just run
the monotony so no longer do I just run
the monotony so no longer do I just run my mouth endlessly to fill up space or
my mouth endlessly to fill up space or
my mouth endlessly to fill up space or forced curriculum on kids that doesn’t
forced curriculum on kids that doesn’t
forced curriculum on kids that doesn’t apply I just let the students show who
apply I just let the students show who
apply I just let the students show who they are how they learn best and then
they are how they learn best and then
they are how they learn best and then adapt to them and outside of teaching I
adapt to them and outside of teaching I
adapt to them and outside of teaching I kind of look at everyone differently now
kind of look at everyone differently now
kind of look at everyone differently now I really like to watch how people dance
I really like to watch how people dance
I really like to watch how people dance way more intently now at concerts and
way more intently now at concerts and
way more intently now at concerts and the best example of how music physically
the best example of how music physically
the best example of how music physically affects people is that dubstep and EDM
affects people is that dubstep and EDM
affects people is that dubstep and EDM concerts
concerts
concerts okay now that just totally flew over
okay now that just totally flew over
okay now that just totally flew over your head dubstep is like electronic DJ
your head dubstep is like electronic DJ
your head dubstep is like electronic DJ music you push a button and it’s really
music you push a button and it’s really
music you push a button and it’s really loud that’s basically the gist of it so
loud that’s basically the gist of it so
loud that’s basically the gist of it so yeah but when you go to these concerts
yeah but when you go to these concerts
yeah but when you go to these concerts it’s really fun because there’s always a
it’s really fun because there’s always a
it’s really fun because there’s always a part in every song where the DJ builds
part in every song where the DJ builds
part in every song where the DJ builds up that intensity and then he cuts the
up that intensity and then he cuts the
up that intensity and then he cuts the song out and then she just he unloads
song out and then she just he unloads
song out and then she just he unloads the entirety of the low end of the
the entirety of the low end of the
the entirety of the low end of the frequency spectrum onto the crowd and
frequency spectrum onto the crowd and
frequency spectrum onto the crowd and everyone just starts convulsing in
everyone just starts convulsing in
everyone just starts convulsing in unison
you know this this music it’s criticized
you know this this music it’s criticized often for not having like music or
often for not having like music or
often for not having like music or melodic value but the magic is how that
melodic value but the magic is how that
melodic value but the magic is how that DJ abuses the part of sound that
DJ abuses the part of sound that
DJ abuses the part of sound that physically affects us consuming our
physically affects us consuming our
physically affects us consuming our bodies and souls interestingly enough
bodies and souls interestingly enough
bodies and souls interestingly enough that sensation is universal despite
that sensation is universal despite
that sensation is universal despite whatever since you might lack now
whatever since you might lack now
whatever since you might lack now I stopped teaching Eddy because I moved
I stopped teaching Eddy because I moved
I stopped teaching Eddy because I moved to New Orleans and since then his family
to New Orleans and since then his family
to New Orleans and since then his family told me that they can’t find a drum
told me that they can’t find a drum
told me that they can’t find a drum teacher because nobody is willing to
teacher because nobody is willing to
teacher because nobody is willing to trial honestly you would have asked 21
trial honestly you would have asked 21
trial honestly you would have asked 21 year old me in advance if I teach a deaf
year old me in advance if I teach a deaf
year old me in advance if I teach a deaf kid how to play music I don’t know I
kid how to play music I don’t know I
kid how to play music I don’t know I might have responded safe luckily though
might have responded safe luckily though
might have responded safe luckily though Eddie’s mom over there went with the
Eddie’s mom over there went with the
Eddie’s mom over there went with the good old Trojan horse method on me which
good old Trojan horse method on me which
good old Trojan horse method on me which seemed pretty sneaky at the time but
seemed pretty sneaky at the time but
seemed pretty sneaky at the time but obviously I couldn’t be more grateful
obviously I couldn’t be more grateful
obviously I couldn’t be more grateful that that’s and to those people who
that that’s and to those people who
that that’s and to those people who won’t teach Eddy drums I say your loss
won’t teach Eddy drums I say your loss
won’t teach Eddy drums I say your loss remember that video we watched at the
remember that video we watched at the
remember that video we watched at the beginning of this speech the one of Eddy
beginning of this speech the one of Eddy
beginning of this speech the one of Eddy playing drums that was taken two months
playing drums that was taken two months
playing drums that was taken two months ago six years after his last drum lesson
ago six years after his last drum lesson
ago six years after his last drum lesson with me he did that on his first try and
with me he did that on his first try and
with me he did that on his first try and I did not tell him that we were gonna be
I did not tell him that we were gonna be
I did not tell him that we were gonna be playing drums or asked him to practice
playing drums or asked him to practice
playing drums or asked him to practice before I didn’t but he just did that
before I didn’t but he just did that
before I didn’t but he just did that music is a language that is programmed
music is a language that is programmed
music is a language that is programmed into him now and it’s hard to think that
into him now and it’s hard to think that
into him now and it’s hard to think that under slightly different circumstances
under slightly different circumstances
under slightly different circumstances he might not have been afforded the
he might not have been afforded the
he might not have been afforded the ability to discover that gift yes
ability to discover that gift yes
ability to discover that gift yes Eddie’s creative process is very unique
Eddie’s creative process is very unique
Eddie’s creative process is very unique and his experience with music is
and his experience with music is
and his experience with music is distinctly different from any of ours
distinctly different from any of ours
distinctly different from any of ours but ultimately he comes away with the
but ultimately he comes away with the
but ultimately he comes away with the exact same feeling every musician has a
exact same feeling every musician has a
exact same feeling every musician has a love for playing and a passion for this
love for playing and a passion for this
love for playing and a passion for this language that requires no words Thanks
Eddie’s here Eddie’s here today so the
Eddie’s here Eddie’s here today so the ASL translation for applause is like
ASL translation for applause is like
ASL translation for applause is like this so while I’m walking off let’s all
this so while I’m walking off let’s all
this so while I’m walking off let’s all give them the appropriate round of
give them the appropriate round of
give them the appropriate round of applause
”
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